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I salvaged some redwood from a deck railing and put one of the boards to good use as a back porch screen door. First I squared the board and planed it down to fresh wood, then I re-sawed it into planks for the rails and stiles and cut the mortises and tenons. I was able to get all 6 pieces from the same original board with next to nothing to spare. I wedged the through tenons with end grain cherry and the trim pieces around the screens were leftovers from a teak flooring project. I got the profile by using the very end of a small crown molding bit so it just left a bead and a cove. I completely rebuilt, cleaned and refurbished a set of Victorian spring hinges and a small mortise lock with a lever handle and a knob. Finished it with some Penofin penetrating oil and tacked in some screens. The trim pieces fit in a rabbets that hold the screens in place. Finally there is a breeze on my porch and I never have to look at the awful aluminum storm door that used to be up. In the process of making this door I came to learn that I am allergic to Redwood when I broke out in small hives anywhere the dust contacted my skin. Its the first wood I have ever had a reaction to which is surprising because I have never had a problem even working with exotic wood like teak, purple heart, or cocobolo.

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Very nicely done and very pleasurable to look at the beautiful grain.
 

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Very nice. I neeeed a screen door. Thanks for the inspiration. I think mine will be sassafras.
 

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Great looking screen door! You're absolutely right-looks much better than those old aluminum ones!
 

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Wonderful craftsmanship. Your door is a great example of the kind of workmanship from the past that we rarely even notice isn't commonplace anymore. It is inspiring and now I've added it to the list of projects for my home. Thank you for sharing
 

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wow that's one beeeeeaaauutiful door! its quite a looker indeed but there Is nothing like the sound of those old hinges. I doubt kids these days would even recognize the sound, but anybody that grew up with one, I think that sound is ingrained in your mind for sure ! great job! by the way where did you salvage that hardware? its fantastic!
 

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I have the extraordinary good fortune to work for an architectural salvage company in my home town and that is where I salvaged the lumber and found the pieces to put together the lockset, but the hinges I actually picked up at a flea market called the elephant's trunk in New Milford CT on separate occasions years apart. Sometimes you get lucky, just have to wait for it.
 

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This certainly takes the good old utilitarian screen door to another level!
 

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Great job
 
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